Okanagan college unveils health expansion

• Brand new facility unveiled
• Paving way for future health care workers
• Helping with high demand for health professionals
• Cost over $19 million to build

The Government of British Columbia has unveiled a new Health Science Centre at Okanagan College to help train more students for in-demand health care jobs.

Spread out over 30,375 square feet, the building features student-centered labs, classrooms and office space for many health and social development programs. The equipment is centered around creating real-life situations students will face when they move into the industry.

Programs such as practical nursing, Bachelor of Science in nursing, healthcare assistant and pharmacy technician will take place in the new facilities.

“It’s just an incredible milestone for Okanagan College,” said President Neil Fassina.

“This has been a dream over a decade in the making to be able to welcome students into our incredibly high technology classrooms and labs. At the same time welcoming everyone back to the campus to getting back to that feel of campus space, it truly is a milestone for us.”

Healthcare professionals are very much in demand across the country. The 2019 B.C. Labour Market Outlook projected 117,100 jobs opening in health professions by 2029.

Minister of Advanced Education and Skills Training Anne Krang was present for the grand opening and is thrilled on what it will mean for the future of healthcare as the need for jobs increases.

“We know as our students come and study in our region they will remain there as they seek practicums, make relationships with their professors and their colleagues here,” Krang said.

“It’s very exciting to see the fruition [of the building], being able to fill the demand of this region but also seeing new students come into health science.”

College president Fassina is confident the new building will provide the province with ready-to-go graduates.

“To truly have that space that is state of the art, it’s so nice to be able to see the look on our learners’ faces as they walk into those spaces and celebrate and learn, [and] knowing they’re going to be walking out as some of the best-trained healthcare providers our province has to offer.”

The building cost $19.4 million, receiving $15.4 million from the government, with the remaining $2.9 million funded by Okanagan College and $1.1 million from donors.